won't mate

[drgallahad]

well i got platies. 2 males and 5 females and all is well with my water. One of my male i think is doing his job, he got 3 girlfriends.:1luvu: My other male just will not get in the game. I luv his color and he the one i want to breed but he just swimming around enjoying life.:shappy: They all have been in my tank for more the 6 month and i have some fryer. Is there anything i can do to help or get him off the side line and into the game. Or do you just wait for him to get in the mood....:help:

[Northernguy]

Try giving him his own tank and harem.It will happen eventually.

[VoidParadigm]

He may not want to do his dirty little thing with the other male around. =P Would you, afterall?

If you want to do selective breeding you HAVE to isolate the male with the female(s) of your choice.

[rich311k]

Actually you need to house him with a virgin female. The other male is probably the dominate one, I don't think platys do embarrassment.

[VoidParadigm]

Heh, last time I tried stating dominance in fish on this forum I got shot down. Figured the joke emotion would be a safer bet. =P

Agreed, though. 1+ to Rich.

[HeatherB]

I have 3 female mollies and 4 males and I do notice that one is always the one running around sticking his stuff where it may not belong (wink wink). I do think there is dominance in fish!

[drgallahad]

WoW !! i guess i learn something. I need to put him in a tank by himself and get him a date for a day or two. Maybe he will do his thing like this. i guess i could put him in a fish bowl for a day and return him and his date back to my 30 gallon community tank. I just hate to stress him or his date out....:14:

THX ALL FOR YOUR HELP:19:

[VoidParadigm]

Could take longer than a "day or two." Fishbowl's not a good idea. =(

[rich311k]

Get a ten gallon set up. Put a load of floating plants in it andf use it for breeding and fry rearing.

[Bristley]

Get a ten gallon set up. Put a load of floating plants in it andf use it for breeding and fry rearing.

+1 on this.

If you really want to be breeding, especially if you want to breed specific fish together, you should set up a breeding tank that is ideal for the type of fish you desire to breed.

You could probably pick up a 10g used online (craigslist, ebay, etc) for a good price and after cycling, have a great setup where you could breed and then raise your fry.

If you haven't already, you should also consider what you would be doing with the fry once you've got them (give to LFS for credit, sell them, use as feeders for predators, etc).

Anyway, good luck and let us know what you decide and how things go.

[jaysee]

I've got a big male platy that is the same way - I have him with 3 females, and they've NEVER got pregnant. He could care less about them. I think he's sterile or gay.

[drgallahad]

:ssmile: THX. to all for your help.....:19: :1luvu: